Daeun POV

I don't know how long I had been sitting on the floor in shock. It wasn't until I felt someone pulling my hair and dragging me out of the room, that I started to come back to my senses.

They dragged me outside and threw me to the ground.

"Who are you and what were you doing in there?" a woman started screaming at me.

I looked up and everything was a blur. There were a lot of people standing around me just watching what was happening.

"Did you really think you could steal from these chambers because no one uses them?" she continued to scream at me.

I was so confused by what was happening, that I couldn't even comprehend what she was saying.

"Answer me!" she smacked me across the cheek.

Sungyeol POV

I ran as fast as I could, but it was already too late. My mother had already dragged her out and was screaming at her in front of everyone. I could only watch as my mother's hand came down hard on Daeun's cheek

"Stop it!" I screamed as I broke through the crowd. "What do you think you are doing?" I screamed at my mother.

She gave a practiced smiled "I'm only trying to keep order in the Inner Palace. This maid was trying to steal from the Crown Princess's chambers."

"That's not true!" Daeun spoke up.

My mother smiled again "Then what were you doing in there?"

"I was only trying to clean the room" Daeun replied.

"Everyone knows that these chambers are haunted" my mother laughed "and you expect me to believe that you were only in there to clean?"

"Perhaps we should take a look inside to see if she is telling the truth?" I suggested. "Since no one has cleaned in there for quite some time, it should be obvious whether or not she is telling the truth."

My mother couldn't argue against my logic, so she reluctantly agreed "Very well then."

I was the first to walk inside the chambers. Followed by Daeun, my mother, Myeongeun and the ministers.

"It looks like she was telling the truth" one of the ministers commented.

"Considering how long this place has been abandoned by the staff, there should be a substantial amount of dust, but there is hardly any to be seen" I smiled as I turned to face my mother.

"Young lady" one of the ministers addressed Daeun. "Were you not afraid of the ghost?"

"Why should I be afraid? She is my friend."

Friend? She was friends with Jiyeon? Why didn't Jiyeon ever say anything? She knew I was in love with her, so why would she hide her from me?

Daeun POV

"Friend?" Daebi-mama asked irritatedly.

"Yes" I replied. "She has been my friend for the past ten years."

Daebi-mama's face became pale and the ministers became nervous.

"Good job, Daeun" Jiyeon whispered in my ear.

"You do realize that the Crown Princess died eleven years ago?" Sungyeol asked.

"Yes" I replied.

"Daeun" Jiyeon spoke to me. "I think you should give the Daebi-mama a taste of her own medicine considering everything she has done to us."

I looked at Jiyeon in confusion. What is she talking about?

"She is the reason you returned to the future when you first met Sungyeol and also the reason I am like this."

"What?" I screamed.

"Are you okay, Daeun?" Sungyeol asked.

"Did you know, Sungyeol?" Tears began to form in my eyes.

"Huh?"

"He only knows about my death" Jiyeon answered. "He knows nothing about what happened to you."

The tears started to fall from my eyes.

"What is wrong with this girl!" Daebi-mama called out.

"Perhaps you should show them who you really are" Jiyeon suggested.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"That you are the one who belongs at Sungyeol's side" she smiled as she pointed at the wardrobe. "Sungyeol said that he would only marry someone who can wear one of my dresses. That is why I am still here. I've been protecting those dresses all this time."

"She is freaking me out" Myeongeun nervously said. "Who is she talking to?"

"Jiyeon" I answered.

Sungyeol POV

Can she really see Jiyeon?

"Impossible!" my mother screamed. "Jiyeon is dead! You couldn't possibly be speaking to her!"

The minsters were starting to get annoyed with the situation. Even if Daeun was speaking the truth, they wouldn't want to believe her at this point.

"Can you prove that you are really speaking with Jiyeon right now?" I asked hopefully.

"Yes" she replied.

"How?"

"She told me that you will only marry someone who can wear a dress from that wardrobe" she said as she pointed to the corner of the room where the wardrobe sat. "She said that she is still here because she has been protecting those dresses. She also said that I should open the wardrobe to prove that I belong at your side."

Myeongeun, my mother and most of the ministers started laughing.

"You see!" my mother smiled. "Now she is showing her true colors! You see what she is after! I bet she has already done something to the wardrobe and now she plans to put on a show so that she can become the Queen."

"Daebi-mama does have a point. She may have some kind of trick planned" The ministers murmured.

"Why don't we have Myeongeun try and open the wardrobe first" my mother suggested and the ministers nodded in agreement.

Myeongeun walked over to the wardrobe and nervously took hold of the handle. She took a deep breath and then pulled, but the door would not budge. "Huh? Why isn't it opening?"

"Try pulling harder, my dear" my mother encouraged her.

Myeongeun took hold of the handle in both hands now and pulled as hard as she could, but the door still would not budge.

"Here, let me help" my mother strode over and began yanking at the door as well. "I don't understand. It should be opening!"

"Perhaps we should allow this maid to try" one of the ministers suggested.

My mother and Myeongeun both stepped aside reluctantly and allowed Daeun to approach the wardrobe.

"Are you sure about this Jiyeon?" Daeun asked aloud.

Daeun POV

"Yes, Daeun" Jiyeon replied. "You are the only one who deserves to be at his side."

"Okay" I nodded as I gently placed my hand on the handle and pulled the door open.

"Impossible! There has to be some kind of trick!" Daebi-mama screamed as she came rushing back over to the wardrobe.

Just as she was about to touch the door, it slammed shut. "Stay away from my stuff!" Jiyeon screamed.

Daebi-mama pushed me aside and began tugging at the door. "Why won't this damn thing open?" she screamed.

"It will never open for you" Jiyeon laughed. "I'd never allow you to touch my belongings!"

"That's enough Mother" Sungyeol spoke up.

"No! She has to be using some kind of trick!" she continued to scream hysterically.

"There is no trick" I said. "Jiyeon just doesn't want you touching her things, so she is blocking you." I calmly walked over to the wardrobe and placed my hand on the handle again. Then, with a light pull, the door opened once more.

"I think that we have seen enough" one of the ministers said. "Jeonha, it looks as though your bride has finally appeared."

Sungyeol POV

"No! I can not accept this!" my mother shouted. "I will not accept her as his wife!"

"Yes you will!" I spoke authoritatively and everyone froze.

My mother regained her composure and questioned "What?"

"I said that you will accept her as my wife."

My mother huffed "You can't make me."

"Yes I can" I replied with a smile. "Have you forgotten what my father said to you eleven years ago?"

My mother now froze in fear. "You..."

"My father left one last decree" I said as I raised the scroll I had been holding up for all to see. "It states that the Inner Court will have no say in the appointment of my bride."

The ministers started to murmur amongst themselves. "Why would the previous King write such a decree?"

"If no one here has any other objections" I smiled. "Then, per my stipulation that I would only marry someone who could wear a dress from these chambers, I hereby announce that this woman, Jang Daeun, shall be my wife and Queen."

Everyone dropped to their knees and bowed. "Yes, Jeonha!" the ministers all chorused together.

I walked over to Daeun and gently took her hand. "There is no need for you to bow" I said as I helped her to her feet.

She looked up at me and smiled causing my heart to race "Is it really you, Sungyeol? I'm not dreaming?"

"You're not dreaming" I smiled back. "Since it has been so long, let me ask you once again."

"Huh?" she looked at my curiously.

"Will you marry me and be my Queen?"